Car-brake-operating device.



Patented lan. I67 |900. E. C. COLLINS.

GAR BRAKE OPERATING DEVICE.

(Application led Aug. 8, 1899.)

(No Model.)

1 I .m ...y/4 a llllllllll lzvenolr: Edward C. Codina, "y

TED STATE-s PATENT trios.

yCAR-BRAKE-OPERA'IING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,688, dated January 16, 1900.

Application filed August 3, 1899.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD O. COLLINS, of Taunton, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Brake-OperatingDevices, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to brake-'operating devices for cars; andit consists in certain4 novel features of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the accompanying drawings and to the claims hereto appended and in which my invention is clearly pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevation of my improved handle. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the upper portion of the brake-shaft. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the ratchet-engaging pawls. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectivelya central Vertical section and a transverse section of a handle in which the ratchet-teeth are formed in a steel bushing.

In the drawings, 1` represents the brakehandle, provided with the large hollow hub 2, in the interior of which is formed a series of ratchet-teeth 3, preferably an odd number, extending longitudinally of said hub or parallel to the axis about which said handle moves in operating the brake.

The upper end of the brake-shaft 4 is enlarged, has formed therein the circumferential groove 5, has its extreme upper portion 6 reduced in diameter to form the two shoulders 7 and 8, has a transverse cylindrical opening 10 formed therein central between the shoulders 8 and 9, and has a central longitudinal slot 11 extending from the shoulder 9 to its upper end, as shown in Fig. 4. The reduced upper portion 6 has fitted thereon ring 12, which abuts against the shoulders 7 and 8 and has its upper end slightly countersunk, and the upper end of the portion 6. of the brake-shaft is expanded into said countersink to firmly secure said ring in position thereon. The exterior of the upper portion of the ring 12 is fitted to abearing in the upper end of the chamber in the hub 2 of the Serial No. 726,000. (No model.)

handle, and the portion of said brake-shaft immediatelyabove and below the groove 5 is fitted to a bearing in the lower portion of the chamber in said hub, as shown.

A coiled spring 13 is placed in the circular -opening 10, and the two pawl-plates 14, each provided on its inner edge with the rectangular notch 15 to receive an end of said spring, are placed in the slot 11, one on each side of the spring 13, the tension of which tends to force both of said pawls outward into contact with the teeth 3 when placed in position within the chamber of the hub 2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7.

As the slot 1l is out diametrically through the center of the upper portion of the brakeshaft 4 and two pawls 14 are placed therein and project therefrom on opposite sides thereof, and as there is an odd ,number of teeth 3 within the hub 2, it follows that when one pawl is engaging with the shoulder of one tooth the opposite pawl is bearing against the central portion of a tooth 3 upon the opposite side of the chamber of the hub 2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, and said pawls may act alter nately upon the teeth 3, whereby a much stronger tooth may be had, with an equally fine4 adjustment of the handle, as if a single pawl and double the number of teeth were employed.

The handle 1 is secured against being ac; cidentally withdrawn from the brake-shaft by the screw 16, the smooth innerend of which enters the groove 5, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

In some cases I propose to form a cylindrical chamber in the hub 2 and fit therein a steel bushing 17, in which are formed the series of teeth 3, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, said bushing being provided upon its exterior with a lug 18, which lits into a groove in the interior of the chamber of the hub 2, as shown. This construction makes a very strong, durable, and effective brake operating device, comparatively cheap and easily constructed, and that will not easily get out of order.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a car-brake-operating device the com bination of a brake-shaft having a longitudi; nal slot cut diametrically through its upper end; a binding-ring embracing the extremo end of the slotted portion of said shaft, to tie IOO the two prongs thereof together; a brake-handle provided with a chambered hub to embrace the upper end of said shaft and revoiuble thereon; a series of ratchet-teeth formed iu the wall of said chamber; a pair of radially-movable pawls itted to said slot from opposite sides of said shaft and havinga cornbined width, at their ends, substantially equal to the diameter of said shaft; and a spring interposed between said pawls and operating to move both of said pawls outward or away from each other to cause them to be alternately engaged by said ratchet-teeth.

f2. In a car-brake-operating device the combination of a brake-shaft having a longitudinal slot cut through its upper end; a bindingring embracing the extreme end of the slotted portion of said shaft to tie the two prongs thereof together; a pairof pawls fitted to said slotfrom opposite sides of said shaft; aspring zo interposed between said pawls and acting to force them outward or away from each other a brake-handle having a chambered hub Iitted to and inclosing the upper end of said shaft, and said pawls; a series of ratchetteeth formed in the wall of said chamber, and extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to engage said pawls; and means for preventing movement of said handle endwise of said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses, on this lst day of August, A. D. 1899.

EDWARD C. COLLINS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE H. SWIFT, HARRIS T. Anno. 

